Portable degreaser



Sept. 23, 1947. J, J. sKELLY 2,427,978

PORTABLE DEGREASER IN VEN TOR.

'/ from/5K5 Patented Sept. 23, 1947 UNITED STATT-:s PATE oisriferi..`

PORTABLE DIJGTREASERY James'J. Skelly, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, asslgnor Vto yCirco Products Company, Cleveland; 01110,

a corporation ofOhio ApplicationMay v7, 1945, Serial No. 592,386

comms. (o1. 21e-3s)- This invention relatesto portable degreasers ofthe type embodying apparatus for injectingthe vapor from a' predetermined volume ofsolvent into the chamber containing the .parts to be cleaned.

The invention furtherl relates to improvements in degreasers of the type disclosed in Patents No. 2,259,544, 2,259,545, and'2,25'9,546, all issued'October '21, 1941, to John F. Black, each oi which contemplates a canjsupporting member having a heating element associated therewith, andY a coupling for the suspension of the assembly uponthe article to be cleaned and the transmission of solvent `vapors thereto;y

The present invention lcomprehends the -functions and'advantages of the apparatus disclosed vinY the aforesaid'patents and in addition pertains to mechanism'for thecontrol ofthe electric-heatingfelementto mechanism for adjustment-ofA the can supportingmemberrelating to the plane of the work.; to-mechanismior safeguarding the use ofthe-apparatus after disposition'sof thesolvent vaporandjto an apparatus which-is efficient'of operation, durable of Vstructure and susceptible of-usevin more-widely diversiiied environs than have heretofore been realized by degreasers of this character.

Other objects and-advantages -more or' less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which al1 the various objects are realized will appear inthe following description, which considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the degreaser embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through thecoupling member, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 2-2'in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a fragmentary portion of an automobile rear axle illustrating the degreaserin place upon-the differential housing thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the electric circuit.

Referringvrst to Fig. 3, the degreaser for the differential gear c ase chosen herein as merely illustrative of one ofthe environs within which the improved apparatus may -be used, comprises generally a frame member l0, a can or bottle Il supported thereby land a conduit l2 adapted to Asupportthe frame and can assembly in-self sustainedl suspension upony the-differential gear case 2 I3; The conduitwis'preferablyattached-to the case I 3 by awthreadedsleeve- *i4-mounted on\the end of-the conduit and-*secured=-in--the lillerv-or drain holey in ythe cover plate oi.- the gear case. Removal offthe grease-laden' solvent condensate may-beelfected-by extraction ofthedrain plug inthegearfcaseforone of the bottom cover plate screws',V w-'hensuch screws `communicate withthe interior-ofthecasing; yor partiall separation of the plateiromthe gear caseor--rear axlehousing.

`In A detaily thej deg-reaserframe V4member. lll-com.- prises a `closed cas-ing-\l Bf-'havingatube--zl Il mount.- ed in i `the .outer fend` .thereof upon `,which there is alfixedascup l 8 internally.:threaded-fon `the Asupfportiof thescanior bottle:.| lcontaining the zlluidic solvent.A `employed-1in i --the -f degreasing4 operation. Theilower portion :otfthef` tubes. l 1 issprovidediwith van .electricheaterfl SYiQftheLimmersion .type which, as .-illustrated, is formed :with .a .resistance :coil :20 wound:aboutiaehollowrcoredal sealed-.atitsilower endl bya; cup ,-1 22:=V and arranged Vin atmospheric .communication with the interior. ofsthe.- tube l1 atpthereupperzendpthereofi Withinthe tube l?! thereiszagbulb '.2 3 1sontainingeenthermalexpansive 25 o, ,l which; VC.cimented;througlfi.a pipe 4211i to.- aebellowsiis nnortedein@ mbracket 2.in;the Casingd 6... Theffree.-endpfthabellcwsis provided with@.threadedzthimblelghavins a nut 2li-there- On'ior :.tne-,supnortfof the innerend 0f, a spring .l 2.9. Theiopposed end; lef the;Snrinsiisxsupperted by f a ,plate retained sbvv theouter .unturned z-endiof the. bracket 2,6. Thethimhle: 2i supports. a depending;` Strapspring 3,0. constitutingv a switch arm disposed `for engagement wthaplunser 3| in an .electrical .shan-action zswitch 32 .f suspended fromthe braclfzet2li..` The switcharm projects through. -a 4 slot ,in the :base of the bracketand is retained in place upon the, thimble 2'1`v by the sprins. The arm is formedof amaterial of sufficient rigidity` toaotuate ,the ,plunger but iex when the yd istention of the bellowsexceedsthe *.throwoffthe .switch- Loneitudinal .adjustment 0f the switch arm '3D relative to theplunger'l may be effected by running the nut 2 8j inwardly or outwardly on th e thi mble 21. The opposed end p ortion of the plungerv 35i i s mo.ved'inwardly to circuit closing position by a spring /bjlade 34 when actuated Aby a manually controlled button 35 guided in an apertured boss ,3-6 in Vthe casingI I 6. The frame I0 lis formed Witha pistol grip handle 3'lstofaccommodate n'ianipulationV of the assembly during attachmentfthereof uponv the housing to be cleaned. ThefWalls-of--the handle define a chamberofadequate size to house an incandescent light bulb 3B which'iswired for illumination-When 3 the switch 32 is adjusted to close the circuit to the electric heating coil 20. A lens 39 is mounted in the handle adlacent the light bulb to apprize the operator of the position of the switch 32.

The can holder or cup I8 is provided with a pipe 40 arranged in fluid communication with the interior of the can II and with the conduit l2 which conducts the solvent vapor to the work. The upper end of the pipe supports a tee 4l machined with gasket seats in the opposed side walls thereof and a series of notches 42 in the wall contiguous the portion of the conduit l2 that is attached to the work. The conduit I2 is provided with a fitting 43 aiixed thereto and formed with lugs 44 configured for engagement within the notches 42 when the nut 45 is tightened upon the opposed threaded end portion of the conduit. The bore in the head of the tee is formed to provide a chamber cilcumambient the conduit I2 and the portion of the conduit within said chamber is cross drilled to afford fluid communication between the pipe 4G and the conduit. The body of the conduit is bent at an obtuse angle intermediate its ends to accommodate the suspension of the can in a substantially vertical position when the axis of the ller plug opening within which the conduit is anchored is inclined downwardly. In installations where the filler plug is normal to the medial axis of the can the nut 4'5 may be loosened, the conduit revolving through an angle of 90, the lugs 44 reseated in the contiguous notches 42 and the nut then tightened to support the assembly in its adjusted position. In a like manner when the filler plug is inclined upwardly the conduit may be revolved 180 then locked against further rotation by reseating the lugs in the appropriate notches and tightening the nut 45. The free end of the conduit is threaded for the reception of the sleeve I4 which is externally threaded for engagement with the tapped filler plug hole in the casing to be cleaned. In using the degreaser on work of the same class it has been found that two or three sleeves having external threads of different size and pitch generally meet the demands. It is obvious, however, that an adapter may be used for such installations as preclude the use of a sleeve of the type illustrated herein.

In operation, after the lid is removed from the can of solvent the heating element is submerged in the fluid and the can screwed in place in the cup I8. The connecting plug or sleeve I4 is then inserted into the opening in the housing containing the grease laden parts and screwed down until a suii'icient number of threads are Aengaged to support the frame and can assembly in self sustained suspension.

The switch button 35 is then pressed inwardly to a depth which will effect the translation of the plunger 3| to its circuit closing position. With the switch in this position the current will flow through the resistance coil 20 and the pilot lamp 38. As the coil becomes heated the core 2| and the heater cup 22 likewise become hot and the heat is transferred to the solvent circumambient the heater and to the air inside the core and tube I1. While the heater and tube are below the level of the solvent liquid, the temperature of the air within the tube I7 in contact with the thermal responsive bulb 23 remains below the boiling point of the solvent.

However, as the solvent is vaporized and the liquid level thereof falls below the upper surface of the heater I9, the heat transferred to the solals vent through the diminished contact area of the cup 22 therewith becomes less than the heat generated in the coil. The air within the heater and tube I'I undergoes a rapid temperature rise which in a, relatively short time expands the material within the bulb 23, thereby actuating the switch mechanism, and opening the circuit to the heater coil 20 and the pilot lamp 38. After the flow of current to the heater is interrupted the remainder of the solvent in the container is vaporized by the residual heat in the heater unit. This is possible through consideration and arrangement of the following factors; the heat capacity of the heater, the heat of vaporization of the solvent, the depth of solvent in the can when the current is interrupted, and the position of the heater relative the bottom of the can.

It will be seen that irrespective of uctuations in the operating voltage and of the initial temperature and/or height of solvent, the solvent will be completely utilized and the resistance coil will be free from the danger of overheating.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A degreaser comprising a can for a solvent, a frame for the support thereof, a. conduit thereon adapted for Iluid communication with the work to be cleaned and the interior of the can, an electric heater supported by said frame adapted for submersion in solvent in said can, an electric switch electrically connected with said heater, a push button on said frame for closing said switch, a distensible bellows thermostatic device having a thermal expansive material therein mounted on said frame in atmospheric communication with said heater and operative connections on said bellows for actuating said switch into circuit breaking relation with said heater upon distention of said bellows.

2. A degreaser comprising a container for a, solvent, a frame for the support of the container, a conduit on the frame to support the degreeser in operative position upon the work and to conduct vaporized solvent to the work, a tube extending from the frame into the container, an electric heater of the immersial type mounted on the end or said tube, a bulb containing a thermally expansive material therein mounted in the said tube in spaced relation to said heater, a switch on saidA frame for controlling the supply of current to the heater, and means responsive to expansion of the material in the ybulb for opening the switch.

3. A degreaser comprising a frame for the support of a can of solvent, a can thereon, fluid connections on said frame for the suspension thereof upon the work to be cleaned, a tube mounted on said frame, an electric resistance coil on the lower end of said tube, a bulb having a, thermal expansive material therein mounted within said tube, a distensible bellows in iiuid communication with said bulb, a switch electrically connected to said coil, a plunger in said switch, a push button on said frame engageable with one end of said plunger, an arm on said bellows engageable with the opposed end of said plunger, said plunger being arranged to close the electric circuit to said coil when actuated by said push button and to break the circuit to the coil when actuated by said arm.

4. In combination, a container for a solvent and an electric heater, mechanism for breaking the circuit to the electric heater responsive to the dissipation of the solvent in said container under the influence of the heater, comprising a bulb having a thermal expansive material therein disposed in contiguous relation with the heater, a bellows in iiuid communication with said bulb, a switch electrically connected with said heater, and an arm associated with said lbellows for moving the switch into circuit breaking position when actuated by the distention of said bellows, the bulb being isolated from the solvent and being aiected by the heater through air convection.

5. A portable degreaser comprising a cup for the support of a container of solvent, a container thereon, an electric heater mounted on said cup, a switch electrically connected with said heater, manual means for closing said switch, thermal responsive means for breaking the electric circuit through said switch, a conduit mounted in said cup, a coupling thereon, a second conduit bent intermediate its ends and attached to said cou pling, means on the end of the bent conduit for the securement thereof to the work to be oleane and means in said coupling to lock the bent conduit in various positions of axial adjustment with respect to the rst named conduit.

6. A portable degreaser comprising a can for a solvent, a cup for the support thereof, an electric heater mounted thereon, a switch electrically connected with said heater, manual means for closing said switch, thermal responsive means for breaking the electric circuit through said switch, a conduit mounted in said cup, a coupling thereon, a second conduit bent intermediate its ends and attached to said coupling, a screw plug on said bent conduit for engagement with the work to be cleaned, and interengaged lugs on said coupling disposed to lock the bent conduit against rotation when the end portion thereof is inclined either upwardly, downwardly or laterally.

JAMES J. SKELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,388,526 Pieper et al Aug. 23, 1921 2,134,675 Shroyer Oct. 25, 1938 2,151,541 Waddell Mar. 21, 1939 2,259,545 Black Oct. 21, 1941 2,288,738 Clark et al. July '7, 1942 2,291,423 Tiscornia July 28, 1942 

